Can Ankylosaurus Harvest Obsidian in ARK?
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Yes, Ankylosaurus can harvest obsidian in ARK: Survival Evolved, and it is one of the most efficient creatures for doing so. The Ankylosaurus, affectionately known as the “Anky,” is a powerful gatherer of resources, and obsidian is one of its specialties. However, it’s essential to understand its strengths and limitations compared to other options for obsidian farming. While the Ankylo is excellent for obsidian, it’s important to recognize other viable, and sometimes more efficient options. This article will fully explore the Ankylosaurus’ role in obsidian harvesting, as well as answer some related Frequently Asked Questions.
Ankylosaurus: The Obsidian Mining Machine
The Ankylosaurus is well known for its ability to harvest a large amount of resources, particularly metal, flint, and stone. However, its proficiency with obsidian is why it’s become a go-to choice for many players. When used correctly, an Ankylo can efficiently clear obsidian nodes at a rapid rate.
How the Ankylo Harvests Obsidian
The Ankylosaurus uses its powerful tail to break up resource nodes. When targeting obsidian, this results in a high yield of obsidian. The Ankylo does this without the typical weight penalty that other creatures or tools may incur. While it doesn’t reduce the weight of obsidian, it is able to carry a sizable amount without being encumbered, thanks to its high base weight stat, making it efficient for harvesting on extended mining trips.
Compared to Other Options
While the Ankylo is good at obsidian farming, it’s not the only creature capable of doing so. Here’s how it stacks up against other contenders:
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Magmasaur: The Magmasaur is another excellent choice for harvesting obsidian, often considered to be on par or even slightly better than the Ankylo. The Magmasaur has the benefit of harvesting obsidian from any obsidian node and is able to carry a fair amount as well.
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Phoenix: The Phoenix is another effective creature, particularly for its ability to fly, allowing for quick and easy transportation between obsidian locations. Like the Magmasaur, it does not have weight reduction for obsidian, but its speed and maneuverability make up for it.
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Mantis with a Metal Pick: A Mantis equipped with a Metal Pick is a respectable option. However, it requires more micromanagement than larger creatures like the Ankylo or Magmasaur, as you would need to repair the pickaxe and monitor the weight capacity more often.
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Metal Pick: Using a Metal Pick directly is another viable way but is a slower and more tedious process compared to utilizing a dino. You will need to consistently repair the pick and worry more about encumbrance.
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Doedicurus: The Doedicurus can harvest obsidian, but only from specific rocks. It’s not as universal as the Ankylo and is primarily used for stone harvesting, often being ignored when talking about obsidian.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harvesting Obsidian in ARK
1. What are the best locations for finding obsidian in ARK?
The best locations for finding obsidian tend to be on mountains and in caves. Specifically, Whitesky Peak and the Volcano are known for having rich amounts of obsidian nodes at and around their summits. On Fjordur, the volcanic island of Balheimr is a prime spot.
2. Can you mine obsidian with a stone pickaxe?
No, a stone pickaxe will not work for mining obsidian. You must use a metal pickaxe or a creature capable of harvesting obsidian.
3. Does an Ankylosaurus reduce the weight of obsidian?
No, an Ankylosaurus does not reduce the weight of obsidian, but their high base weight stat allows them to carry more obsidian than other creatures without being encumbered.
4. Can a Doedicurus efficiently harvest obsidian?
The Doedicurus can harvest obsidian, but only from specific obsidian rocks. Other creatures like the Ankylo and Magmasaur are more efficient due to their ability to harvest obsidian from all obsidian rocks.
5. Is the Magmasaur a better obsidian gatherer than the Ankylosaurus?
The Magmasaur is generally considered to be on par or slightly better than the Ankylosaurus. Both are excellent, however, the Magmasaur has the benefit of harvesting from all obsidian nodes, similar to the Anky. The Magmasaur also possesses the ability to harvest metal, and stone, all the while being an excellent tank.
6. Can I use a Mantis with a metal pickaxe to harvest obsidian?
Yes, a Mantis equipped with a Metal Pick can harvest obsidian. However, it might be less efficient than using an Ankylosaurus or Magmasaur for large-scale farming due to encumbrance and durability of the pick.
7. What other dinosaurs can harvest obsidian besides the Ankylosaurus?
Besides the Ankylosaurus, you can use the Magmasaur, Phoenix, and Mantis (with a metal pick).
8. Can a Gacha gather obsidian?
Yes, a Gacha can gather obsidian, but it is not as efficient as an Ankylosaurus or Magmasaur. The Gacha has other uses that make it more valuable, such as for resource creation via the crystals it produces.
9. Can an Ankylo auto-harvest obsidian?
While the Ankylo once auto-harvested metal, this feature has since been removed. You will need to manually target each obsidian node to harvest obsidian.
10. What resources does an Ankylosaurus primarily harvest?
An Ankylosaurus primarily harvests metal, flint, and stone. It is also very efficient at harvesting obsidian.
11. Is an Ankylosaurus bulletproof?
While the armor of an Ankylosaurus can likely stop small gun fire, it’s not bulletproof against high-powered rifles or other powerful weaponry.
12. Can Ankylosaurus harvest crystal?
Yes, an Ankylosaurus can harvest crystal, along with other creatures like the Magmasaur and Tek Stryder.
13. What is the most efficient method to quickly obtain a lot of obsidian?
Using an Ankylosaurus or Magmasaur at rich obsidian locations is the most efficient method. Alternatively, a Phoenix allows for quick transport between obsidian locations, and the Mantis with a metal pick can provide a reasonable amount.
14. Is a metal pick the same for all obsidian harvesting dinos?
Yes, the metal pick used by the Mantis will gather the same amount of obsidian as any other character. The main difference would be the weight, and the speed the item can gather.
15. What are some other tips for harvesting obsidian?
Use a high-level Ankylo, Magmasaur, or Phoenix for the best harvesting results. Utilize a weight-focused build for the harvesting dino for extended farming trips and look for maps with dense clusters of obsidian rocks like Balheimr on Fjordur.